Another Spring Football Next Year

[jerrym]

I saw him on the sideline a week or two ago, so an easy $70K for him I guess.

It may be an easy $70K but Boyko's goal was to use the AAF to get back to the NFL, which after four years on PRs there, was unlikely to happen anyway and with little or no playing time in the AAF is even more unlikely to happen.

[jerrym]

Looks like the Memphis Express are about to make the same mistake the Als did - rushing Manziel into action on a terrible team probably in the hopes of boosting their average attendance of 12,000 and quite possibly ending up with similar results including a quick fading of interest in Manziel.

General manager Will Lewis says that Manziel could play on Sunday when the Memphis squad hosts the Birmingham Iron – just over a week after signing with the club. ...

Why would the Express run him out there so quickly? Well, the Express are 1-5 and on the verge of being eliminated from playoff contention (only four of the eight teams make the post-season.) The team’s quarterback situation is, uh, unsettled after Christian Hackenberg was garbage and Zach Mettenberger got hurt. They also have three home games left and are averaging just over 12,000 fans a game in two games so far.

https://3downnation.com/2019/03/21/j...-his-old-team/

[gilthethrill]

Looks like the Memphis Express are about to make the same mistake the Als did - rushing Manziel into action on a terrible team probably in the hopes of boosting their average attendance of 12,000 and quite possibly ending up with similar results including a quick fading of interest in Manziel.

https://3downnation.com/2019/03/21/j...-his-old-team/

I predict Manziel and Memphis will have similar results as Montreal did. Oh and why did Popp not acquire Manziel??? He could have been an Argo...good career move going to the AAF....😉

[jerrym]

Manuel played briefly and Memphis won but it was because of their other QB - Brandon Silvers. Former Rider Trent Richardson also played in the game.

One week after signing with the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football, former Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel made his AAF debut with the team in an abbreviated stint.
Manziel was under center for three drives in the second and third quarters of Memphis's 31-25 comeback overtime win over the Birmingham Iron on Sunday evening. The quarterback finished 3 of 5 with 48 passing yards, 20 rushing yards, one sack and a failed two-point attempt.

Manziel spelled Express starter Brandon Silvers briefly in the second quarter, leading a drive deep into Iron territory. The quarterback picked up seven yards on an option run to start the march. Manziel then hit on his first AAF completion -- a 36-yard lob down the sideline to Pig Howard. The drive ended in a missed field goal.
After two more drives, Manziel was replaced for good by Silvers, who finished 24 of 35 with 266 passing yards and two scores and led Memphis to its comeback victory. Silvers made his first pro start on Sunday after starting four seasons under center at Troy. Former New York Jets quarterback Christian Hackenberg is also on the Express' roster. ...

Among the other notable performers from Sunday night were Express WR Reece Horn (7 rec, 113 yards, TD), Iron RB Trent Richardson (16 att, 56 yards, TD) and Iron WR Amba Etta-Tawo (3 rec, 71 yards).

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...top-iron-in-ot

[gilthethrill]

Manuel played briefly and Memphis won but it was because of their other QB - Brandon Silvers. Former Rider Trent Richardson also played in the game.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...top-iron-in-ot

Considering there is limited blitzing allowed, this league has serious qb protection issues. Commentators keep pumping up Richardson because he has 10 hrs despite at 2.5 YPC. I didn't take kindly to Marvin Lewis and that other guy comment that CFL was not real football with 2 downs.

Despite OT, the game was really not exciting.

[AngeloV]

Considering there is limited blitzing allowed, this league has serious qb protection issues. Commentators keep pumping up Richardson because he has 10 hrs despite at 2.5 YPC. I didn't take kindly to Marvin Lewis and that other guy comment that CFL was not real football with 2 downs.

Despite OT, the game was really not exciting.

The other guy I believe being Maurice Jones-Drew. He of the classic comment in week 2 when a screen pass was brutally executed, "People don't understand, it takes years to get the timing right on a screen pass."

As for Marvin Lewis, he must have had incriminating photos of someone. 16 years as HC of the Bengals, missed the playoffs 9 of those years, and was 0-7 in the years he did make it.

[gilthethrill]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...pa/3287922002/

AAF may not survive this bump in the road.....

[AngeloV]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...pa/3287922002/

AAF may not survive this bump in the road.....

I'm shocked that Tom Dundon might pull the plug before his entire 250M cash infusion is gone. Shocked I say.

I really hope the CFL players that tweeted about how much better that league will be in terms of player benefits realize how stupid they were to make such claims. Furthermore, I hope the ones that left the CFL to go there, never see a CFL camp again.

Every single pro spring league has failed....why would this one be any different?

[gilthethrill]

I'm shocked that Tom Dundon might pull the plug before his entire 250M cash infusion is gone. Shocked I say.

But to place the blame on the NFLPA? Come on now. Why should the NFL provide this league with PR players? Would it make a difference in attendance? No. Would it provide more tv veiwers? No. Simply put, spring football is not in demand. Mr McMahon, save your $$$ and cancel the 2020 XFL season.

[AngeloV]

But to place the blame on the NFLPA? Come on now. Why should the NFL provide this league with PR players? Would it make a difference in attendance? No. Would it provide more tv veiwers? No. Simply put, spring football is not in demand. Mr McMahon, save your $$$ and cancel the 2020 XFL season.

It's easier to lay blame on the NFL and PA, then to admit that it was a stupid investment.

[R.J]

Two weeks in and the League was already facing very serious issues, so this news shouldn't surprise anyone.

Sources: New AAF majority owner Tom Dundon has spent $70 million heading into Week 6 of his ownership. Is he creating any leverage by threatening to fold it? https://t.co/kUXWXe6a41

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 27, 2019

[jerrym]

But to place the blame on the NFLPA? Come on now. Why should the NFL provide this league with PR players? Would it make a difference in attendance? No. Would it provide more tv veiwers? No. Simply put, spring football is not in demand. Mr McMahon, save your $$$ and cancel the 2020 XFL season.

Blaming the NFLPA is an attempt to shift the blame from his foolish investment.

[AngeloV]

And we thought the Argos had problems with practice facilities...

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sport...327-story.html

Can you imagine Steve Spurrier, one of the most iconic coaches in college football history and a State of Florida treasure, living out of a suitcase for a month like a traveling salesman? What other team in what other professional league have you ever heard of that plays its home games in one city (Orlando), lives in a hotel in another city (Jacksonville) and then buses an hour-and-a-half every day to practice in another state (Georgia)?

An article in the New York Times suggests it's a possibility that the league may not even finish the season, and that this coming weeks games may be the last. I wonder if Dylan Wynn still thinks this league gives him a better chance to go to the NFL?

https://nypost.com/2019/03/28/aaf-ma...d-report-says/

Long story short, if this sticking point isn’t solved the AAF could dissolve before the Final Four begins, and Johnny Manziel’s time in the league could be over after just two weeks.

[jerrym]

If the AAF does shut down this year, the CFL should be able to pick up a few players who develop into CFL stars as has happened with other leagues that have folded.

[gilthethrill]

If the AAF does shut down this year, the CFL should be able to pick up a few players who develop into CFL stars as has happened with other leagues that have folded.

I think most players will sign with the XFL just to go through it all over again.

[matthew]

Looks like Johnny M. may have suffered another concussion in today's Express game. https://twitter.com/AAF_Reddit/status/1112061385507328002

https://twitter.com/AAF_Reddit/statu...62116670914560

[gilthethrill]

Looks like Johnny M. may have suffered another concussion in today's Express game. https://twitter.com/AAF_Reddit/status/1112061385507328002

https://twitter.com/AAF_Reddit/statu...62116670914560

Not good to hear. Prior to that I read he threw 3 picks. If he started over that kid Silvers, after he lead them to an OT victory last week to keep the teams slim playoff hopes alive, then I don't know what the coaching staff were thinking...unless the entire league is desperate for exposure.

[Argo57]

Not good to hear. Prior to that I read he threw 3 picks. If he started over that kid Silvers, after he lead them to an OT victory last week to keep the teams slim playoff hopes alive, then I don't know what the coaching staff were thinking...unless the entire league is desperate for exposure.

Mediocre overhyped QB.
Don’t know what he was thinking trying the cross body tackle while leading with his head.
Wonder how long it will take teams to finally realize that he just isn’t that good?

[jerrym]

If he started over that kid Silvers, after he lead them to an OT victory last week to keep the teams slim playoff hopes alive, then I don't know what the coaching staff were thinking...unless the entire league is desperate for exposure.

Silvers started the game but was yanked in the first quarter in favour of Manziel.

Johnny Manziel's first touchdown pass as a member of the Memphis Express was waved off for offensive pass interference on Saturday against the Orlando Appollos.

Four plays later, the former Heisman winner threw an interception in the end zone (his first since joining the AAF less than two weeks ago). During Will Hill III's return, Manziel attempted to make the tackle. Hill's knee made contact with Manziel's helmet and the quarterback had to be helped off the field after staying down on the turf for more than a minute.

Brandon Silvers started the game for Memphis. He was 4-of-9 for 34 yards on two series before Manziel made an appearance.

Manziel was 2-of-3 for 13 yards and had three carries for 18 yards before leaving the game.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...newstopstories


On the other hand, Brandon Silvers continues to show promise.

Silvers had played well in the wake of the head injury to Johnny Manziel, finishing the game with 269 yards and a touchdown. His lone mistake ended up being costly. ...

Memphis quarterback Brandon Silvers was picked off as he tried to get rid of the ball as Memphis tried to rally. That allowed Orlando to run out the clock. ...

Quarterback Brandon Silvers is slinging it and the defense is once again creating takeaways and getting points off of those turnovers. With Orlando playing a little sluggish in stretches, this definitely has the recipe for an upset.

https://www.cbssports.com/aaf/news/a...s-with-injury/

[AngeloV]

Wonder how long it will take teams to finally realize that he just isn’t that good?

I really disagree with that statement. His start in the AAF was similar to the CFL in that he was thrown into the spotlight with little to no practice time with his team. Love him or hate him, there is no denying he improved the more he played with Montreal last year. He was fantastic in the game in Ottawa in which he received his previous concussion. His attitude may not be where it needs to be, but I will continue to say that the conditions the league put on him to play in the CFL were wrong. Rather than make him check in with league mandated sessions, they should have just given him a one chance and out clause. To the best of my knowledge, he did nothing illegal or even controversial when the league decided to void his contract. He should be allowed to just live his life in the off season, with the condition that he does nothing stupid.